Medicines Patent Pool deal to make cancer drug cheaper

Source: The post is based on the article “Medicines Patent Pool deal to make cancer drug cheaper” published in The Hindu on 23rd June 2023

What is the News?

The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) has signed sub-licence agreements with India-based companies, along with an Indonesian firm, to make generic versions of the drug Nilotinib of the Switzerland-based pharmaceutical corporation Novartis.

What is Nilotinib?

Nilotinib is used for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia, a type of blood cancer. Nilotinib is sold under the brand name Tasigna and marketed worldwide by Novartis.

What is the significance of agreement for making generic versions of Nilotinib?

Under the agreement, selected manufacturers can make generic versions of Nilotinib in India and seven middle-income countries.

They can also supply it in 44 territories included in the licence through a non-exclusive licence agreement, subject to local regulatory authorisation.

The move will give an affordable treatment option to people diagnosed with the disease in such countries. This will make certain cancer drugs more accessible and cheaper for patients.

What is Medicines Patent Pool (MPP)?

MPP is a United Nations-backed group working towards increasing access to, and facilitating the development of, life-saving medicines for low- and middle-income countries.

MPP partners with civil society, governments, international organisations, industry, patient groups, and other stakeholders, to prioritise and license needed medicines and pool intellectual property to encourage generic manufacture and the development of new formulations.